Rochester is a vibrant city of about 100,000 and is home to the world famous Mayo Clinic (which employs over 30,000 in Rochester alone). What makes it a great location for a Midwest Shrine Summer Session is that it is laid out in a compact square so all of the venues we will use are extremely close to each other and to all housing. Thanks to the Mayo Clinic's world patient base, the city has some of the best housing of any MSA city, yet there is not the traffic problems encountered in larger cities.
The city of Rochester credits its naming to a settler from Waukesha, Wisconsin, George Head. He staked a claim on the bank of the Zumbro River near the falls in July of 1854, and he called the town Rochester because it reminded him of his hometown of Rochester, New York. Shortly thereafter, the small town started to blossom around the institutions it built or attracted, most notably, the Mayo Clinic.
Climate and Average Weather
The average high and low temperatures in February: 26°/11° and
August: 78°/58° in Rochester.
Where Is Rochester?
Rochester is located in southern Minnesota 76 miles southeast of the Twin Cities. Easily accessible by highway, Rochester also operates an international airport with daily flights to Chicago, Minneapolis, and Dallas.
By Road
Rochester is easily accessible by highway. East-West Highway
Routes: Interstate 90, US Hwy 14, State Hwy 30, State Hwy 42,
State Hwy 296. North-South Highway Routes: Interstate 35, US Hwy
52, US Hwy 63.
Distance from Rochester
| WA WA | Regina SK | 834 miles |
| NAJA | Rapid City SD | 577 miles |
| KHARTUM | Winnipeg MB | 550 miles |
| YELDUZ | Aberdeen SD | 435 miles |
| KEM | Grand Forks ND | 410 miles |
| EL ZAGAL | Fargo ND | 324 miles |
| ABU BEKR | Sioux City IA | 294 miles |
| EL RIAD | Sioux Falls SD | 239 miles |
| AAD | Duluth MN | 223 miles |
| ZOR | Madison WI | 202 miles |
| OSMAN | St Paul MN | 76 miles |
| ZUHRAH | Minneapolis MN |
76 miles |
Rochester Int'l Airport
The Rochester Interational Airport is the most convenient choice in the area. At the Rochester International Airport, you get through security faster, park close to the airport with low parking fees, and get to fly right out of your backyard. The next trip you plan remember to ask your travel agent to check the Rochester International Airport, or enter RST on any travel website.
Air travel into Rochester International Airport is easy with
daily full-sized jet service from Northwest Airlines and
American Eagles Airlines through the connecting cities of
Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit.
Northwest Airlines: 800-225-2525
American Eagle Airlines: 800-433-7300
